UPON some advices received, that the Shawanese Indians at Allegheney had been once or twice at Montreal, to visit the French Governor; that some Messages and Presents had passed between them, and that it was to be apprehended the French were Endeavouring to gain them over to their Interest, A Message from this Government was sent to the Chiefs of these Indians, in December last, accompanied with a large Belt of Wampum, and some Rum, desiring them to come to Philadelphia, in order to confer on some Matters of great Importance to themselves, as well as us. Which Message having been delivered this Spring, they returned a friendly answer thereto, and promised to send some of their Chiefs to visit us this Summer. Accordingly, Opakethwa & Opakeita, two of their Chiefs, with two others, vizt: Quassenungh & Kataweykeita, having come hither on the 28th current, and taken time to refresh themselves after their Journey, A Council was held at Philadelphia, Septr. 30th, 1732. PRESENT: The Honourable THOMAS PENN, Esqr., Proprietary. The Honourable PATRICK GORDON, Esqr. Lieut. Governor. Peter Chartiere, Interpreters. Opakethwa producing the Letter sent from the Governor, said that their Chiefs had received it last Spring, from the hands of Edmund Cartlidge, with a Belt of Wampum & Six Gallons of Rum, for which they thanked the Governor; that they had returned an answer, and desire to know if it was received. The Governor then enquired of them the Reason why they had gone so far back as Allegheney? They answered, that formerly they lived at Patowmack, where their King dyed; that having lost him, they Knew not what to do; that they then took their Wives & Children and went over the Mountains, (meaning Allegheney,) to live. It was told them, that as they had entred into a League of friendship with this Government, they should have advised with us as their Friends and Brethren, before they removed; and then 'twas asked them, why they had been so frequently at Canada of late? and what was the Reason of their going thither? They answered, that they no sooner received the Message from this Government but they resolved to come hither, and impart to their Brethren what had passed between the French and them. Opakethwa then proceeded and said, that when they went over the Hills they mett with a French Trader, who told them that the French Governor, their father, desired Earnestly to see them at Montreal; that accordingly they went to see him, but had no Intention to leave their Brethren the English, or turn their Backs upon them. That when they went to Montreal, the Governor there told them that he had no other Design in sending for them than to see them, and take them by the hand; that he had likewise sent for the Six Nations and the Indians of Conestogoe, to come & visit him. That the French Governor said he saw them from affar off, and their Brethren the English trading amongst them, and desired they would love all the Christians for they were good Men; that the Goods which the English brought amongst them were good in their Kind, and necessary for them, and to bind his Words gave them a Belt of Wampum; that they had sometime before received Powder & Lead from him, and that they had lately carried him a Present of Skins in Return. He added, that the French Governor told them that the English were much better furnished with Cloathing, and other things necessary for the Indians, than his People were; that in time the French and English Traders would meet at Allegheney, exchange Goods, and trade together. He then desired the Indians to have a good heart, and love all their Brethren the English; that he would also take Care that all the French Indians should love the English, and said that some of his People would come to Allegheney in the Fall, to visit them. Being asked whether they Know that the French intended to build some Houses at Allegheny, they answer that they know nothing of the matter. They were then acquainted that a great Treaty had lately been held here with the Six Nations, in which it was proposed to unite all the Indians in the English Interest together; that a considerable Number of their Nation, about thirty four years since, (as the Govr. had told them in his Letter,) coming with their Wives & Families to Settle at Conestogoc, they then entred into a League of Friendship with this Government; first with Coll. Markham, the then Lieutenant Governor, and in about three years after, with William Penn himself, who was under the Great King of England as a Father to all the Indians; that from that time the Shawanese became as Brothers to the English, as all our other Indians are; and so in all Treaties with our Indians since the first coming of the Shawanese, we have always accounted them, and from time to time they had constantly, as there was Occasion, renewed and confirmed the League or Chain of Friendship with us, but now they seemed to be applying to others to make new friendships with them. They said, that having received the Governor's Letter calling them hither, they came as Friends and Brethren; but they appeared concerned, and said they did not know any thing they had done amiss on their parts, and did not think they were sent for to be found fault with; they thought they were coming to their friends. They were told they thought right, we are their true friends, and we look upon them to be Ours. We only put them in mind of the old League and friendship subsisting between them and Us. They are to be commended for living in Peace with all their Neighbours, and they ought to be civil to the French while the French are civil to them, but they must not prefer any other People to the English; they have made Leagues with us; we are their true friends. We take their present Visit very kindly, and they shall find we do; and are pleased with it; but they must like true friends, be open and free with us true friendship requires this. They appeared well pleased, and Evening coming on, they were dismissed till another Meeting. At a Council, October 5th, 1732. PRESENT: The Honourable Proprietor, with some Members of Council. The Elections, and the Governor's Journey to Newtown, in Maryland, with the other Commissioners appointed for running the Division Lines of the Province, &c., having delayed the prosecution of the Treaty with the Shawanese Chiefs, began the 30th Ultimo, they. now mett again, and were told as was hinted before to them: That divers Chiefs of the five Nations having lately visited this place, and concluded a Solemn Treaty with us, It was proposed that all the Indians in Amity with the English should enter into one League, and become United as one People: and particularly, that the Shawanese should be united to the Six Nations, and that this had been largely discoursed with those Nations; they said the Mingoes had not said any thing of it to them. They were put again in mind of the League they had entred into with this Government, that they had always been kindly treated, and we could not but think strange they should retire and leave us, without, first acquainting us with it. As William Penn, who was the Father of this Country, was always a father to all the Indians, so were his Governors. Whenever we speak to the Indians, We speak to them as to our Brothers, with open hearts. Their Father William Penn is now in his grave, for he was very Ancient, but his VOL. III.-20 Son is here; he is now with them, and will treat all the Indians in the same manner his father always did. He is not pleased they should retire such a distance from us, he, desires they may live near us; or if their Hunters must go further abroad for their Game, yet their Wives and Children should remain with us. That they might not be straitned for Want of Lands, there was a large Tract laid out for them about their Town, near Pextan, which should always be kept for them and their Children for all time to come, or so long as any of them continued to live with us. They see by this we are their true friends, and as Brothers they are desired to open their hearts and speak freely. They said when they heard all we had to say to them, they would answer fully, and the substance of what had been said to them being repeated, they replied: That they had heard of the Land that was laid out for them; that their Young men had gone over the Mountains to hunt where they might have more Game, that when that was over they would return and see the Land; that their Families and the rest of them, being afraid of being surprized by their Enemies, the Tootelaes, had retired where they might live in greater Safety. They were told that our Traders might leave off carrying out Goods to such a distance, and they well knew the French could not supply them with Goods, either so valuable in their Kind, or at such cheap rates. To which they answered, that they were sensible of this, but they had horses of their own, and could bring down their Skins to the Trader, or to this town, if there were occasion. They then presented a Belt of Wampum, and said they acknowledged the Receipt of the Governor's Letter, and the Belt, with the Rum sent them; that they were pleased with the Message, and being desired to come and visit us they were come accordingly; they were glad to see William Penn's Son, & pleased with the Words they had heard, and will report them to their People; they say they have had a very hard Summer, and are poor, but had brought him a Skin to make a pair of Gloves. The Proprietor said he was glad of this Opportunity of taking them by the hand, and desired them to speak freely on the heads that had been mentioned to them. They answered that the place where they are now Settled Suits them much better than to live nearer; that they thought they did a Service to this Province, in getting Skins for it in a place so far remote; that they can live much better there than they possibly can any where on Sasquehannah; that they are pleased however with the Land laid out for them, and desire it may be secured to them. They were told that some Cloaths should be provided for them, with a present for them to carry to their People. And when these were ready, the Proprietor would speak further to them about the 1 and, upon which the Council, having ordered Cloaths & a present, rose. October the 6th. Three of the four Shawanese Indians meeting the Proprietor & some of the Council, presented a bundle of Skins, consisting of 22 small Drest Deer Skins, wt. 26lb., and 2 small Elks. They were told there were Coats making for them, and other Cloaths, with a Present, was providing; the Proprietor presented their Chief with a very fine gilt Gun, as a mark of his respect for their Nations, and told them he would send a Surveyor to run Lines about the Land intended for them, and that none but themselves & Peter Chartiere should be allowed to live on it. That their Cloaths were not yet finished, but they should be ready in the Evening. October the 7th. One of the four Shawanese Indians, a young Man named Quassenung, Son of their old King, Kakowatchy, being 3 or 4 days since, taken with the small Pox, tho' not one Person in the City was then known to have that Distemper, Opakethwa their Speaker, agreed to stay in Town to take care of him; the other three received each of them a blue Cloth Coat lined with Salloon, a Shirt, a Hatt, a pair of Stockings, Shoes and buckles, the like was also given for the Sick young man, to be delivered to him. And for a present to their Nation was ordered and delivered, a piece of blue Strouds, for blankets, one hundred weight of Powder, four hundred weight Bullets, ten gallons of Rum, & two dozen Knives. And to John Wray the Interpreter, who had come down with them, five pounds. Their charges in town were also ordered to be paid, and what should further arise on account of the Sick Young Man, and Opakethwa, who staid to take care of him. N. B. Quassenungh recovered from the small Pox, but Opakethwa who tended him, was taken most violently with the same Distemper, and dying on the 26th, was next day handsomely burried. Quassenungh was seized with violent Pains, and languished till the 16th of January; he then dyed, and was likewise the next day buried in a handsome manner. E At a Council held at Philadelphia, Septr. 31st, 1732. PRESENT: The Honble THOMAS PENN, Esqr., Proprietary, The Honourable PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieut. Governor. James Logan, Samuel Preston, Clement Plumsted, Thomas Laurence, Esquires. The Governor acquainted the Board that the Differences between our Honorable Proprietary Family and the Lord Baltimore, touching the disputed Boundaries of their respective Governments, being now happily accommodated, an Agreement had been concluded between them, which, by Direction of the Proprietor, he was now to |